Perambulator



' (No Model.)

G. D. LEADBET TER.

PERAMBULATOR.

No. 595,488. Patented Dec. 14, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE D. LEADBETTER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PERAMBULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,488, dated December 14, 1897.

Application filed April 5, 1897. Serial No. 630,679. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE D. LEADBETTER, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Perambulators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked th ereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a folding perambulator; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a perambulator in which a child may be readily wheeled from place to place and in which the arrangement is such as to enable the seat and foot-rest of theperambulator to be folded up against the frame and as well the pivoted supporting-leg, so that when not in use the perambulator will occupy but a small space, enabling it to be readily carried into a streetcar or other public conveyance from which the ordinary baby-cab is excluded, said device serving when in use as a convenient perambulator in which a child may be conveniently transported and which, although consisting of but two wheels, is capable of being securely supported in an upright position while the child is occupying it. This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved perambulator. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation partly in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation in detail, showing the springactuated catch for locking the supporting-leg in position.

Referring to the letters of reference, A designates the curved uprights which constitute the main supporting-frame of theperambulator. These uprights are preferably wooden bars which stand approximately parallel and whose lower ends curve forwardly and are attached to the axle B of the transportingwheels B. The upper ends of the uprights A curve outwardly and carry the cross-handle b, by means of which the perambulator is manipulated. C designates the seat,the rear edge of which is pivoted at a between said uprights. D designates the supporting-arms, the inner ends of which are pivoted at c to the outer face of said uprights, and the outer ends of which are provided with an eye or loop 0, adapted to receive a restraining-strap (not shown) for the purpose of confining the child within the seat. The under faces of the arms D are provided with the depending ears e, which are formedintegral therewith and to which are pivoted a right-angled end piece (1 of the vertical rods E, which depend from said arms and to which the outer edge of the seat 0 is pivoted at f. Said rods extend some distance below the seat 0 and carry at their lower ends a foot-rest F, which is pivoted at g thereto and is supported in aposition at right angles to said rods by means of the curved bars 72. These curved bars h are slotted for their entire length, as shown in Fig. 2, and through this slot extends a pin 7;, which is fixed in the rod E. This arrangement enables said footrest to be folded up against the vertical face of said rods and firmly supports said rest when extended in a horizontal position. The right angled portions 01 of the rods E lie against the under faces of the arms D and form shoulders which abut against said arms when said rods E have reached a position at right angles thereto, therebylocking said parts so as to maintain the seat 0 in an extended position and to support the foot-rest F at a point where it will receive the feet of the occupant of the perambulator.

The pivoting of the arms D to the uprights A and to the rods E and the pivoting of the seat as well in said uprights at its rear edge and at its outer edge to said rods enables said parts to be folded upward against the uprights A, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, in which position the perambulator occupies but a small compass and may be readily carried into a street-car or other public conveyance.

To support the perambulator in an upright position, there is provided a pivoted supporting-leg G, the upper end of which is pivoted at m to a suitable bracket on the cross-piece H, secured to the uprights A. Formed through the upper end of said leg is a slotted aperture 11, which is adapted to receive a notched circle-bar I, secured to the frame of the perambulator. Said circle-bar is located concentric with the point of pivot of said leg, so that said leg may be swung upward or downward in the arc of a circle. Mounted upon the leg G is a spring-actuated catchbolt 1, which is adapted to engage in the notches 0 in the circle-bar to lock said leg when swung downward, as shown by solid lines in Figs. 1 and 2, and when swung upward out of the way, as shown by stipplelines in Fig. 2. This leg renders the perambulator self-supporting even when occupied, and by means of the pivotal feature thereof said leg may be swung upward entirely out of the way when not in use. The lower end of the leg is bifurcated and the members are spread somewhat apart, so as to more securely brace the perambulator. The cross-piece J connects and strengthens the uprights A and also serves as a back-rest for the occupant of the perambulator.

It will now be understood that by means of this improved perambulator a child may be carried as conveniently as in the ordinary babycab and that, when desired, the attendant may fold the seat and leg of the perambulator against the uprights A, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and carry said perambulator into a street-car or other similar vehicle without occupying but little more space than is ordinarily occupied by one person, rendering the device of great practical utility, especially in large cities, where the carrying of baby-carriages by street-railways is prohibited, and serving as well as a convenient and practical device for use upon the crowded streets.

Having thus fully set forth my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a perambulator, the combination of the two parallel uprights forming the supports or frame, the transporting-wheels secured directly to the lower ends of said uprights, the seat pivoted to said uprights, the arms also pivoted to said uprights above said seat, the rods E pivoted to said arms and to said seat and extending below the latter, the folding foot-rest on the lower ends of said arms, the locking-joint between said rod and arms and arranged to permit said parts to fold upward as described.

2. In a perambulator, the combination of the parallel uprights forming the frame,transporting-wheels attached directly to the lower ends of said uprights, the pivoted arms, seat, and foot-rest, mounted directly on said uprights, the pivoted supporting-leg adapted to swing in the arc of a circle, and means for locking said leg.

3. In a perambulator, the combination of the uprights forming the frame and handle, the transporting-wheels mounted on the lower ends of said uprights, the seat and arms pivoted thereto, the rods carrying the foot-rest pivoted to said seat and arms, the supporting-leg pivoted to a cross-piece mounted on said uprights, the slot-ted opening in said leg, the notched circle-bar lying in said opening, and the spring-actuated locking-bolt carried by the leg adapted to engage the notches in said bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE D. LEADBETTER.

Witnesses:

E. S. WHEELER, M. A. MARTIN. 

